Well congrats on the pup!! man dog training can be a job, and or it can be easy, the biggest thing that I come across is the newbies, they want to be all excited and jump in and start training...which is agood thing to an extent, the dog will tell when its ready to start being broke, and if its not ready .....upstairs, dog will blow up....somewhere, the gun, the retrieve, handleing....something. When you work the dog, always expect the unexpected, if the dog boogers up little, dont worry, or panic, like lets say you gotta a bird out, dog comes in and points for a blink of an eye, though before dog would point for eternity{seemed like}, and you no more than get there, pow!!! dogs on the bird, before you start yourself, and whoa whoa, and fregging out, relax!!!!! OK, the dog blew the point up, prepair for the next time. Encourage the retrieve, or walk on, if the dog doesn't want the retrieve. On doing young dogs, always always, something odd will happen, they are learning, and so are you. A dog will never be broke in a week, you can try and break them on a barrel, or 2x6, all this stuff is great, and makes a great looking dog, but when you do it this way, it will fall apart in the field......until its taught in the field, with out birds, and then with birds. My self I will teach once, intead of 3-4 times. You will see when the dog is ready to start the breaking process, you will see it in its eyes, its body, and definatly in its attiitude, around game. There is no time or age set!! EVERY dog and breed is different. The books will not tell ya this, and most of the guys, {in general} know this but wont except it. There are some pretty level headed guys, and some good trainers on this board, a good bunch of guys and gals here.....More hunters, not many show dogs, which keeps a lot of piece in the family. Anyway, you ever have a question, on anything about a dog, man feel free to call or e-mail, I hate trying to fix on the computer, it can be a lot of typing, just remember patience and timing will make you a better dog. The dog will read you, and you pay attention, and you will be able to read the dog. Always be confident in what you are gonna do or teach. Doc had a link on a post here for Natalie, on gun assoc, pretty good article, I do not post links myself, I will explain to who ever what and why, that way,I am 1 on 1 with the person, and when I ask what or why, I know what they are talking about, because we are on same page. It will bea great experience for ya, I love them all, Later and have a good day, Jonesy 859-985-2918 [email protected] Jonesy's Gun Dogs, Berea Ky.....I train and or fix all breed bird dogs and retrievers, Cya man, DAVE JONES, aka Jonesy